Flow-retarding apparatus.



V. P. EVANS.

FLOW REMRmNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED DEC. H. 19M.

Patented May 28, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L PX EVANS.

FLOW RETARDING APPARATUS.

APPUCATSON FlLED 02c. 11. mm

1367,8572 Patented May 28, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

mum?

, UNITED STATES T OFFICE.

MENTS, I'O GLOBE Application filed December 1?,

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PEN N FLOW RETARDINQ APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters .Patent.

To all whom it mayl concern:

Pennsylvania, mprovements in Flowof which the following is 2!.

States, residing have invented Retarding at I, Pownnn Evans, 9.

One object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple, substantial and reliable l device for causing a predetermined delay or retardation in any flow of water between the dry, portion of a s apparatus, regard rinkler system and alarm ess of the pressure of said.

water; the arrangement of parts being such as will cause their the flow of Water to said ale only after it has flowed to sai predetermined time and rate.

my invention; this figure section the apparatus ordi with said device;

Fig. 2

. 80 than Fig. 1, further illu positive operation and rm apparatus d device for a predetermined These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth.

the accompanying drew-- refersection of a How 26 retardmg device constructed according to is a vertical section on 1221 misting the construction of the invention;

ig. 3 is a horizontal section on the a-a, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a fra also showing in nanly associated 'ger scale i like entary vertical sectim'i $5 illustrating a slig tly modified form of a part of the device.

In the above drawings ceiving chamber in the form open at its bottom to it in any suitable manner. as by casing necte bolts, a ring 2. Between 8 leedin alarmva vs 31 connected ply pipe 32 of a sprinkler 1 represents a reof a. domelike and having conthis latter and the flan ed mouth of the chamber 1 5 a diaphragm 3 and a second dia hragm 4 is likewise mounted between the said ring 2 and a hollow is com bottom of the chamber 1. at the side thereof '1' the reception of a bushing 7 to which is connected a ipe from the auxiliary valve 37 0 an in the water supsystem.

Between.

Patented Mary 28, 1918. 1914. Serial No. 877,786.

the bushing 7 and the opposite wall of the conduit 6 is confined a cylindrical screen 9 which so mounted that its interior is in communication with the pipe 8, while the liquid passing through it will enter the conduit 6. This latter which is preferably integral with the casing structure, has a soc 0nd outlet opening connuunicaling with a passage 10 formed i a valve eentli suit ably mounted in will structure.

The under taco oi said who sent proferahly has a concuvy rmi'urn designed to mmml :d surface of a carried upon. id in the present forming M? :i spindle '17": which s centrally Through both of the diapnmgms E5 and i. Between said dim pl'iiugnse there is mounted upon the spindle a collar ll ha viug a flange at its upper end confining the diaphragm 3 against the unli 'l side of the valve 12, and. at its opposite (*Ih'l has a second flange against which the diaphragm dis confined by a washer 15 held in place on the spindle 13 by a nut 16.

The diaphragm 3 at any suitable point has a small hole 1''? through which liquid is free from the interim of the chamher i. into the s ne-n 218 between the two iliuplu'agnzs or us slwwn in Fig. l, the diaphi-ago! 3 imgi i lalil and an opening 1? is 'nwavialerl into the pa sage 25 from whence at ial flows oil water may pass to as e withe'mi operating the alarm devices. om this space a pipe 19 leads to a drain, while the space 2G formed below the diaphlegm 4 by a hollow in the cover 5 is connected through a pipe 21 with that portion of the :alnrn'i valve directly communicating with the Water supply system, so that this space is normally full of liquid forcing upwardly the diaphragm 4 and with it ressing the valve 12 against its seat. Obviously it may be connected to some other suitable parting from m a passage 22 0 lion whose ends center of its top relatively small cross secopen respectively at the and at one side 'ielow its curved part, so there is at all times a free opening from the conduit 8 through the passages 6 and 10 to the passage 22 of the valve and hence to the interior space 23 of the chamber 1. The seat 11, in addition to the passage 10, is provided with an annular lt't't s or passage 24 opening into a passage :25 formed in a suitable portion of the chamber casting 1 and this passage or recess is connected through any suitable number of passages 2t) with the interior of said chamber, it being noted that they open on the lace of the valve scat so as to be normally closed h the valve 12. The pipe '27 leads from this space or passage 25 to any suitable t'orm of Water actuatet l alarm device; in the present case to an alarm controlling device 33 and also to a water motor 3| designed to operate a gong Under conditions of operation the valve 12 is kept seated by the uressurc of water in the chamber 20 delivered from the source of supply for the sprinkler system actington the diaphragm l and it is noted that the area of this diaphragm exposed to such pressure is materially less than the area of the exposed upper face of the diaphragm 3. The pipe 8 like the pipe 21, is connected to the alarm valve 31, but its inlet is normally iuaintaim-d closed by the valve 36. If for any reason the main clapper 36 of the alarm valve with the auxiliary valve 37 should momentarily open so as to allow of a temporary How of water through the pipe 8, said water passes through the screen 9 and pits sages 6, l0 and 22 into the space 23 within the chamber 1 and at once begins to leak into the space 18 between the diaphragins through the small opening 17, from whence it, passesthrough the pipe 19 to the drain or if the opening into the passage 25 is employed it passes into the pipe 27 and thence to the drain since its pressure and quantity are insuttieient to actuate the alarm devices 33 and 34. If after this opening, the alarm valve immediately closes, there is obviously no large amount of water collected within the space 23 and. consequently no pressure on the dia phragni otherthan that due to the Weight of such water. The latter thus gradually passes out of the chamber 1 without affecting the alarm apparatus connected to the 'pipe 27.

If however, the main and auxiliary valves 36 and 37 remain open, as they would upon operation of the sprinkler system. there would be a continued flow of water through the pipe 8, the passages 10 and 22, and into the cavity 23 of the chamber 1 around the valve 12. This would shortly be filled in spite of the leakage through the openings 17 or 17, and a downward pressure would be exerted u on the diaphragm 3 due to the pressure of the water in the sprinkler system. Owing to the difierence in the exposed areas of the diaphragms 3 and 4, both of these latter would then he moved down against the pressure of the liquid in the space "0 and as soon an'sucl. downward movemen. has progressed .i'ar enough to expose the face ot the valve 12, the force excrted to llltlYt said diaphraguis would be niaterially augmented owing to the increased area of the \alvu exposed to pressure.

Water is now free to flow from the cavity 23 of the chamber] through the passages 26 to the passage 1H. cavity and through the pipe 27 to the water actuated alarm apparatus 33 and Li a which is thus put in operation and continues to operate as long as water under pressure is delivered through the pipe 8.

When the flow in the sprinkler system is cut oil and thalarm valve again set in its closed position, the flow through the pipe 5% ceases and the liquid within the cavity ":3 of: the chamber 1, as well as that in the asso ciated passages flows out through the little I? to the drain 15), so that when liquid undoipressure is again admitted to the alarm valve, it flows through the pipe i? do tlu cavity 20 of the mver or cap 5, tlw wy again moving upwardly the two diaphraglus and the valve 12. The latter then engages the concave face of its seat 11, cutting off the opening 26 from conmiunication with the cavity :23 which, however, is still. in communication with the pipe 8 through the passage 22 of the valve.

By the use of the above device the chattering of the alarm valve 36 on its seat due to Water hammer for example such as would cause temporary opening. or the leakage of any Water through the auxiliary valve 37 would be efi'ectually prevented from causing operation of the alarm apparatus connected to the pipe 27, since as previously noted, the water thus delivered to the ca ity it ol' the casing would escape to the drain heifer it could accumulate aoove the diaph in Z; in such quantities as would cause unseatiup; of the valve 12. When, howeven, the alarm valve 36 with the auxiliary valve 37 is opened by flow of water into the sprinkler system, the alarm apparatus is quickly put, into operation, since the passages 26 are fully uncovered by reason of the movement. of the diaphragm due to the differential areas exposed to pressure and also because of the additional area exposed to the action of liquid in the cavity 23 by the unseating of the valve 12, which causes its action to be certain and positive. It is to be noted that the outlet of the passage 10 is materially larger than the cross section of the passage 22, so that the unseating of the valve per mits an increased inflow of water and causes the operation of the alarm apparatus 33 :ii'ld 34 connected to the pipe 27 in a minimum of time.

It will be noted that the flanged collar Li and the washer to rigidly engage a relatively large area at the center of the diaphragm land in addition 1 preferably provide a support such as the ring 30 for supporting that part of the diaphragm between said collar anl the structure 2 when the valve is seatcu, in order to prevent its abnormal deflection under the conli'nued-action 0f the water pressure in the chamber 20.

I claim:-

1'. The combination in a [low retarding device of a casing having an inlet and an outlet; a diaphragm structure dividing said casing into chambers; a valve connected to said structure and normally closing the outlet, there being an opening in the valve through which one of the i'zhamhers is Open to the inlet; and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the other of the chambers to hold the valve closed.

2. The combination in a flow retarding device of a casing having an inlel. and an outlet; a diaphragm movably Iuonnlml in the casing; a valve carried by the dim phragm and normally closing {he Milli-l; While leaving the inlet partially open .1, there being a normally open wastiouilcl from title casing; and means for supplying fluid under pressure to hold the diaphragm in position to close the valve,

3. The combination in a. flow ret device of a casing; a. valve seat ihei-ein; casing having an inlet and an. oulht both openin on said seat; a valve for the seat forme to close the outlet and partly close the inlet; a diaphragm exposed to liquid under pressure in the casing; and means for normally holding the valve closed.

4. The combination of a casing having an inlet; two diaphragnis mounted to divide the easing into three chambers; means for rrline' said connecting said chambers to the water supply of a sprinkler system; a. conduit for connecting one of the chainliiers to an alarm mechanism; with a valve normally closing said conduit and also restricting the inlei.

5. The combination in a low retarding device of a casing having an inlet and an outlet; 21 valve normally closing the outlet and restrictin the inlet; the casing having also a norma ly open waste outlet; with means for normally holding the valve closed.

6. The combination in a flow retarding device of a casing having an inlet and an out let; a valve seat in the casing having passages respectively communicating with the inlet and outlet and formed with a concave face on which said passages open; a. valve having a convex portion enacting with said seat and provided with a passage of less area than the inlet passage for connecting the same With the interior of the casing; a, diaphragm structure supporting the valve; and means for supplying fluid under pressure to one side of said diaphragm structure.

7. The combination in a flow retarding device of a casing having an opening; a diaphragm closing the opening and provided with a passage therethrough; a ring having .a'w aste outlet and confining thgdiaphragm phragn'is and pro ided with a passage lead iug from its face into the casing; and a Seat in the casing having inlet and outlet passage opening on its face in such position that the inlet passage is in communication with the opening in the valve when the latter is closed.

8. The combination with an alarm valve having a casing, and a main valve therein, of a flow retnrdiu r device consisting of a second casing; a diaphragm dividing said casing into chambers; an outlet conduit from onev of the chambers; an alarm device connected to be actuated by fluid from said conduit; :1 second conduit connecting the sec ond chamber with that part of the alarm valve casing on the supply side of the valve therein. a third conduit connecting the part ol the alarm valve casing on the delivery ride of the valve with the first chamber of the flow retarding casing; 21 valve normally held closed by fluid under pressure delivered through the second conduit and normally preventing fluid flow from the third conduit to the outlet conduit.

9. The combination in a flow retarding device of a casing having an inlet and an outlet; a. diaphragm structure dividing said casing into chambers; a valve connected to said structure and normally closing the outlet, there being an opening in the valve through which one of the chambers is 0 en to the inlet; and. means for supplying uid under pressure to the other of the chambers to hold the valve closed, there being a relatively restricted waste passage from the first chamber of a cross section permitting the building up of pressure under predetermined conditions while permitting escape of liquid therefrom.

10. The combination in .a. flow retarding device of a casing having an opening, an annular structure adjacent the opening, and a cap for the annular structure; diaphragms confined between the annular structure and the casing and also between said structure Hild the cap; a valve seat mounted in the casing and communicating with an inlet; an outlet for the casing opening on said valve s .t; and a valve mounted on the diap ragms and formed to cooperate with the seat.

outlet for the casing opening on said valve seat; and a valve mounted on the diaphragms and formed to cooperate with the seat, said valve normally closing he opening to the outlet condui and having passage connecting the inlet to the interior of the casing.

12. The combination in a flow retarding device of a casing having an opening; an annular structure adjacent the opening, and 21 ca for the annular structure; diaphragms con ned between the annular structure and the casing and also between said structure and the cap; a valve seat mounted in the casing and communicating with an inlet; an outlet for the casing o enin on said valve seat; a valve mount on t e diaphragms and formed to cooperate with the seat; a connection from a sprinkler system for delivering fluid under pressure to one of the diaphragms to normally maintain the valve inl t: an outlet for the casing opening on' said valve seat; a valve mounted on the diaphragms and formed to cooperate with the scat, one of the diaphragms having a passage from the interior of the casing to the space between the diaphragms; and a Waste connection from said space.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my I name to this specification, in the presence of two SllbSCIlblng witnesses.

POWELL EVANS.

Witnesses:

GERALD O. Bnowu, WM. A. BARR. 

